About maketodayrock.com: We celebrate musicians' birthdays, remember those we've lost, and highlight key moments in music such a release dates, chart peak dates, or anything else tied to a specific date. Pick any day from the menu in the top right. The front page shows recent obituaries.
November 25, 1976 ~ Roots rock, folk rock, rock outfit the Band play the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California ~ Announced as their “farewell concert”, the Band play for some 5,000 visitors, the event including a turkey dinner for all visitors. The stage set for La Traviata was borrowed from the San Francisco Opera. Numerous guest artists joined the band onstage including the Band's previous employers Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, as well as Neil Young, Muddy Waters, the Staple Singers, Dr John, and Van Morrison. The entire event was documented on film by Martin Scorcese, with the film and 3-LP soundtrack released in 1978. The performance is especially well known for the film, widely considered one of, if not the best rock concert registration
November 25, 1974 ~ Composer, conductor Raymond Legrand passed away in Montreal, Canada ~ Worked with Ray Ventura, Henri Bourtayre, Guy Dejardin, Irène de Trebert, Maurice Chevalier, Georges Guétary, Tino Rossi, Colette Renard, Francis Lemarque, Marcel Mouloudji, Edith Piaf, and Henri Salvador ~ Legrand was born in 1908
November 25, 1972 ~ Garage rock, punk rock, psychedelic rock bassist, guitarist, singer Kenny Håkansson, full name Kenny Dick Håkansson, born ~ Best known as member of the Hellacopters. Also worked with Entombed, the Clint Eastwood Experience, Blasphemy, Maximal Scandal, Parodi, the Brain Dead Bodies, and the Breaking
November 25, 1969 ~ Jazz bassist Chris Wood, full name Christopher Barry Wood, born in Boulder, Colorado, USA ~ Influenced by Charles Mingus. Best known for forming the trio Medeski Martin & Wood with John Medeski and Billy Martin. The trio have recorded over a dozen albums since the early 1990s and are especially acclaimed for their 1992 Notes From The Underground debut album, 2004's End Of The World Party (Just In Case), and 2009's trilogy set Radolarians. Wood has also worked with Ned Rothenberg, the Either/Orchestra, John Zorn, John Scofield, and Marc RibotNovember 25, 1969 ~ Jazz, pop, soul drummer, songwriter Kim Ofstad born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Co-founding member of D'Sound, best known for their 1998 Beauty Is A Blessing sophomore album. Formed the producer, songwriter team ELEMENT with Hitesh Ceon. Has also worked with Knut Værnes, Ab Und Zu, and Eivind Sarset
November 25, 1968 ~ Rapper, MC, keyboardist, producer Erick Sermon born in Bay Shore, New York, USA ~ One third of pivotal early hip-hop trio EPMD alongside PMD and DJ Scratch, known for their 1988 acclaimed and highly influential Strictly Business debut album. Has recorded as a solo artist starting with the album No Pressure in 1993. Also specifically noted for the 1998 El Niño album, a collaborative effort with Def SquadNovember 25, 1968 ~ Singer, harmonica player Nick Clemons, full name Clarence Anichol Clemons III, born in New Jersey, USA ~ Son of longtime the E Street Band member Clarence Clemons. Debuted in 1993 with the Waiting For You EP. Has worked with Bobby Bandiera, John Eddie, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, and Jimmy Vivino
November 25, 1966 ~ Singer Stacy Lattisaw born in Washington DC, USA ~ Recorded her debut album, the Van McCoy-produced Young And In Love, in 1979 at age 12. Opened for the Jacksons on their 1981 Triumph Tour. Would regularly hit the higher echelons of the R&B charts throughout the late 1980s, especially working with producer Narada Michael Walden, with songs such as Dynamite, Let Me Be Your Angel, Love On A Two-Way Street, Don't Throw It All Away, Nail It To The Wall, Every Drop Of Your Love, and with the Johnny Gill-duets Perfect Combination and Where Do We Go From HereNovember 25, 1965 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Tim Armstrong born in Albany, California, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of punk rockers Rancid and as a member of the Transplants. Member of the Devil's Brigade. Previously a member of ska-punk outfit Operation Ivy. As a songwriter or collaborator has worked with artists as diverse as Jimmy Cliff and Joe Walsh
November 25, 1964 ~ Alternative rock, grunge, hard rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Mark Lanegan born in Ellensburg, Washington, USA ~ Frontman, lead singer, co-founding member of psychedelic grunge band Screaming Trees. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with The Winding Sheet released in 1990. Frequent collaborator of the Queens Of The Stone Age. Formed the Gutter Twins with Afghan Whigs singer Greg Dulli. Member of Mad Season alongside Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. Lanegan has also guested on recordings by Melissa Auf Der Maur, Creature With The Atom Brain, Moby, and the Manic Street Preachers ~ Lanegan passed away in 2022November 25, 1964 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Tim Freedman, full name Timothy James Freedman, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Lead singer, keyboardist of the Whitlams. Co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material including their 1997 breakthrough hit No Aphrodisiac
November 25, 1963 ~ Jazz singer Holly Cole born in Halifax, Canada ~ Fronts the Holly Cole Trio. Actively recording since the late 1980s. Known for her jazzy interpretations of well known pop and rock songs originally by the Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Gordon Lightfoot, Elvis Presley, Tom Waits, and Lyle Lovett
November 25, 1960 ~ Singer Amy Grant born in Augusta, Georgia, USA ~ Referred to as “the Queen of Christian Pop”, sold over 30 million albums. Known for songs such as Father's Eyes, Sing Your Praise To The Lord, Angels, Find A Way, Wise Up, Everywhere I Go, What About The Love, That's What Love Is For, Baby Baby, and Every Heartbeat. Collaborated with Michael W Smith, Randy Stonehill, and Peter Cetera. Married to singer Gary Chapman from 1982 to 1999. Married to country singer Vince Gill since 2000November 25, 1959 ~ Guitarist Steve Rothery born in Brampton, UK ~ Original guitarist, longest continous member of Marillion. Cites Andrew Latimer, Steve Hackett, David Gilmour, Joni Mitchell as influences. Has also worked with the Wishing Tree, Jadis, Arrakeen, John Wesley, Arena, Ian Mosley, and Gazpacho
November 25, 1950 ~ R&B, disco singer Jocelyn Brown, full name Jocelyn Lorette Brown, born in Kingston, North Carolina, USA ~ As a solo artist known for the mid-1980s dance hits Somebody Else's Guy and Love's Gonna Get You. In-demand backing singer from the mid-1980s through the 1990s, has worked with R&B, dance acts such as Musique (In The Bush), Dazzle, Inner Life (I'm Caught Up In A One Night Love Affair), Joe Bataan, Change, Cerrone, the Salsoul Orchestra, Heatwave, Incognito (Always There), Right Said Fred (Don't Talk Just Kiss), the Sonic Surfers, Kym Mazelle, Nuyorican Soul (It's Alright I Feel It), Kamasutra (Happiness), Jestofunk, Da Mob (Fun), and Loleatta Holloway
November 25, 1949 ~ Luther Robinson, commonly known as tap dancer, actor, singer Bill Robinson, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Has performed in minstrel shows, vaudeville, Broadway, and films. Perhaps best known for a series of 1930s films alongside Shirley Temple and for his role in the Broadway black revue Blackbirds Of 1928. Despite being the highest-paid African-American entertainer during the first half of the 20th century Robinson passed away penniless ~ Robinson was born in 1878November 25, 1949 ~ Singer Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters record Quicksilver ~ Written by Edward Pola, George Wyle and Irving Taylor. Orchestra conducted by Vic Schoen. The biggest hit version would be Bing Crosby's, reaching top 10 on the pop charts. Other early versions were recorded by Doris Day, and by Elton Britt with Rosalie Allen
November 25, 1947 ~ Drummer Val Fuentes born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as member of progressive folk-rock band It's A Beautiful Day. Has also worked with Fat Chance, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Shadowfax, Lina Valentino, Linda Imperial, and the Pure Pleasure Band. His son Carlo Fuentes is also a musician, playing drums, piano, and singing with local bands
November 25, 1947 ~ Jose Rodiguez Trindade, commonly known as singer Zé Rodrix born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Member of Sá Rodrix & Guarabyra, present on the albums Passado Presento & Futuro and Terra. Also worked with Som Imaginario, Momento Quatro, Secos & Molhados, Joelho de Porco. Active as a solo artist and film composer since the early 1970s. Wrote Casa No Campo, a massive hit for Elis Regina in 1971 ~ Rodrigues passed away in 2009
November 25, 1944 ~ Beverley Bevan, commonly known as drummer Bev Bevan, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known for his work with the Move, singing lead on Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart and Ben Crawley Steel Co, and the Electric Light Orchestra. After the latter disbanded in 1986 co-founded ELO Part II. Drummed for Black Sabbath on their 1983 Born Again tour. Guested on Moonshine and Wake Up The Nation of Weller's 2010 Wake Up The Nation album
November 25, 1944 ~ Robert Neale Lind, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Lind born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Best known for Elusive Butterfly, a top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1966. Also known for Cheryl's Goin' Home, Remember The Rain and Go Ask Your Man. Lind's songs would be covered by over 200 artists including Adam Faith, the Blues Project, Sonny & Cher, John Otway, the Cascades, Glen Campbell, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Eric Clapton, Nancy Sinatra, the Four Tops, Richie Havens, Hoyt Axton, the Kingston Trio, Johnny Mathis, They Might Be Giants, and Petula ClarkNovember 25, 1941 ~ Composer Eleni Karaindrou born in Tichio, Greece ~ Studied in France while improvising with jazz musicians, returning to her native Greece in the 1970s after the military junta ended. Scored her first soundtrack, Periplanissi, by the end of the decade. Would go on to write for over 60 films, theatrical productions, TV series and TV films
November 25, 1941 ~ R&B, soul singer Percy Sledge, full name Percy Tyrone Sledge born in Leighton, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for When A Man Loves A Woman, which topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1966. Other well known songs include Warm And Tender Love, It Tears Me Up and Take Time To Know Her ~ Sledge passed away in 2015November 25, 1938 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Luiz Henrique Rosa born in Tabarão, Brazil ~ Made an instant smash with his 1963 Bossa Moderna De Luiz Henrique debut album, which contained some of his best known songs including Sambou Sambou, No Blanco Do Mar and Vou Andar Por Ai. Would remain popular until his death at 46 in a car crash. Has collaborated with Sivuca, Hermeto Pascoal, Walter Wanderley, João Gilberto, Airto Moreira, as well as with American stars such as Stan Getz, Oscar Brown Jr, Billy Butterfield and Bobby Hackett ~ Rosa passed away in 1985
November 25, 1931 ~ Trumpeter Nat Adderley, full name Nathaniel Carlyle Adderley, born in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Brother of Cannonball Adderley, with whom he also collaborated. Co-wrote Work Song with Oscar Brown Jr, which has since become a jazz standard. Also worked with JJ Johnson, Woody Herman, Kenny Clarke, Wes Montgomery, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Vincent Herring, Ron Carter, Sonny Fortune, Johnny Griffin, Antonio Hart, Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Byrd, James Clay, Victor Feldman, Red Garland, Benny Golson, Quincy Jones, Wynton Kelly, Sal Nistico, and King Curtis ~ Adderley passed away in 2000